I’m looking at affordable dental implant options to fix my jaw. I noticed it had gotten smaller, which is making me look years older. I asked my doctor if there are reasons my jaw would shrink. He did some research and said I have “facial collapse” from my dentures and I need to see my dentist. It looks like dental implants can fix that, but they’re pretty pricey. I looked into snap-on dentures, which are considered affordable dental implants. Will they help my jaw as well?

Avery

Dear Avery,

I’m glad you wrote. You’re on the right track in dealing with this. Having dental implants does prevent the problems which result from dentures, but it will not repair it. To repair it, you’ll need to have something called bone grafting done. This restores the bone structure lost while wearing your dentures.

Once it’s restored, however, you will need to protect the new bone or the same thing will happen again. Here is where your affordable dental implants can play a vital role. As you’ve discovered in your research, the roots being implanted into your jawbone tricks your body into thinking you still have teeth there and need your jawbone.

Affordable Dental Implants and Facial Collapse

Snap-on Dentures, which are an option in getting affordable dental implants will help. It will help the area at the front of your jaw to keep its structure and help with that aging appearance. It also means that your dentures will be secure and never slip or fall out.

The only downside is they won’t prevent bone loss in the other areas of your jaw where there aren’t any implants. For a more secure hold to your dentures as well as more bone preservation, you may want to look into implant overdentures.

This can use four to six implants and give you a totally secure bite with a lot of bone structure. You’ll find a much higher quality of life than you’ve previously experienced with your dentures, including greater capacity to chew properly.

I’ve had dentures for at least 30 years of my adult life. I’ve never had a pretty smile. My daughter-in-law keeps telling me about dental implants. They sound great, especially because my dentures don’t seem to fit anymore. Is it really possible for me to get a pretty smile after dentures?

Edith

Dear Edith,

Dentures can be beautiful…with the right dentist.

You can have a beautiful smile. In fact, you can get a gorgeous smile with dentures or dental implants. The procedure doesn’t matter nearly as much as the quality of the dentist you choose to do the procedure. However, there are other medical reasons to choose dental implants over dentures. We’ll start with that.

The Downside of Dentures

Dentures Help Prevent Facial Collapse

I can explain why your dentures no longer fit. When your dentist first removed your teeth, your body recognizes that they’re gone. Because our bodies are so efficient, it begins to reabsorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere throughout your body where the minerals are more necessary.

Unfortunately, you lose so much of the minerals your jawbone slowly disintegrates. Eventually, there’s nothing there to keep your dentures in your mouth. This is known as facial collapse.

Dental implants prevent this because the implants themselves are surgically implanted into your jawbone. Your body recognizes those as the roots of teeth and leaves your jawbone intact.

Your jawbone is gone. In order for you to get either procedure, dentures or dental implants, you’ll have to build back up that bone structure. To do that you’ll need bone grafting. Fortunately, that procedure can be done in one outpatient appointment. After a period of healing, you can then choose whether to have dentures or dental implants done. Though, if you get dentures again you’ll eventually have to deal with facial collapse… again.

For a Beautiful Smile, You Need a Skilled Cosmetic Dentist

Choosing who does your procedure is the most important decision you’ll make. I’m going to assume you’re choosing dental implants because that’s such an advanced procedure it requires more specific training. You’re going to look for two specific things: a skilled artistic cosmetic dentist and someone with significant post-graduate implant training with a high success rate.

Cosmetic Dentist

The easiest way for you to find a great cosmetic dentist is to go to the mynewsmile.com website. They’ve done all the research for you. In order for a dentist to get listed on their site, they have to show their training, their technical skill, and their artistry. They can’t pay to get listed. It’s completely based on skill and artistry.

Most of them even have a beautiful smile guarantee, like Dr. Murphree.

Implant Training

They MUST have post-doctoral training in restorative dentistry. Placing dental implants is an advanced procedure where many things can go wrong. Don’t hesitate to ask them about their training. Some reputable programs are: The Dawson Academy, The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), and
The Kois Center. There are others so if your dentist mentions a place not listed, feel free to contact us again and ask.

Ask about their success rate. They should have at least a 98% success rate.